Mary K. McCormac Northeast Region Education/Volunteer Coordinator
We emailed Mary Mcormac some questions about coyotes from the Colorado Division of wild life and she answered back to us.
1. Are people safe around coyotes?
For the most part, coyotes are afraid of people and so keep
their distance from humans. However, there are times coyotes become
habituated to people, usually through directly and indirectly feeding
them (indirect feeding, for example, would be using bird feeders - not
only do the seeds attract them, but what eats the seeds, such as
squirrels, also attract coyotes). Other times to be careful of coyotes
is during breeding season (February/March). Mostly the issues with
coyotes in the Denver Metro area have to do with safety of peoples'
pets, not the people themselves, though I think all of us would say to
never leave small children unattended in coyote country (well, in any
wildlife country, too :o). Of course we also recommend keeping a safe
distance from any wild animal and NEVER EVER FEED WILDLIFE.
2. Are humans invading coyotes home?
We wouldn't use the term invading, but indeed as human
population and urban development increases, the chance for
human-wildlife interactions and conflicts also increases. The
interesting fact about coyotes is that with our increased urban
development, they have actually thrived. Coyotes were once strictly
desert animals but with urban/surburban development, we have created
perfect habitat for them and many other animals. Studies have shown
coyotes need no natural habitat to survive - if you have food, shelter,
water, and space in your yard, you have perfect coyote habitat! Coyotes
now live in every state in the continental U.S. (including Alaska) and
in every urban area, including Chicago and New York City.
3. How old can a coyote live?
In captivity, a coyote can live up to 13-15 years. In the wild,
most die before they're 3 years old. Many urban coyotes are killed by
cars.
4. What do they normally eat?
The important thing to know about coyote eating behavior is they
are opportunistic feeders, like raccoons and bears. I tell kids that
coyotes are like big raccoons (a bear is like a huge raccoon) because
they will eat anything and everything they can get their paws on! Their
primary source of food is rodents; they also eat deer, rabbits, birds,
raccoons, insects, fish, grass, fruit, etc. So small mammals make up
the majority of their diet, but even though they are technically
carnivores, they really are omnivores. I also tell kids that if they
had to work for their food, what would they do? Would they go for a
rabbit who knows to run away from them, how and where to hide, etc., or
would they go for a cat or small dog, who are not trained to escape
predators and are much easier to catch? Becomes much easier to
understand why any wild animal may target a pet for food - we also try
to explain that wild animals cannot tell the difference between a wild
animal and a domesticated one, so when your pet is outdoors, essentially
it becomes part of the food chain.
5. What are their habits?
Coyotes are territorial animals, but in urban areas their
territories are much smaller than those that live in rural areas. They
use a range of howls, barks and whines to communicate to each other.
They typically have a highly organized social system, consisting of
groups/packs that apparently defend territories from other coyotes.
Packs/groups most often consist of family members and size can vary
greatly across geographic regions and habitat types. Although they live
in family groups, they usually travel or hunt in loose pairs. In urban
populations, solitary animals are fairly common, as they search to join
a group or start their own. Coyotes are typically crepuscular, meaning
active at dusk and dawn; however, in urban areas, they can be active any
time of day. Coyotes are probably the most intelligent land mammal in
North America and so are incredibly adaptable and can learn people's
habits (why we tell people never let your dog out at the same time every
day) and we can re-instill fear of humans in them, but it will take a
community effort.
6. What should you do when you see a coyote?
If the coyote is in a park/open space area and not close to
anyone/bothering anyone, it should be left alone. The Division of
Wildlife strongly encourages people to haze coyotes that come into
yards/get too close to people, as they may have become habituated and
lost their fear of humans. Hazing can be in the form of squirting with
a hose, spraying vinegar/water with a spray bottle, pepper spray, blow a
whistle, yell, clap hands, throw small rocks/sticks at it, basically the
intent is for the coyote to fear people - what is best for the coyote
and people. If meeting a coyote face-to-face, be as big and loud as
possible, wave arms, clap and throw objects at the coyote, do NOT turn
your back or run, back away slowly until coyote leaves or you are at a
safe distance. WE have a great brochure and post card we give out to
folks with more information on how to protect pets, etc. - if you send
me an address I'll throw them in the mail for you...
7. Are coyotes an endangered species?
No, coyotes populations are believed to be quite healthy
throughout the U.S.
8. How many babies do they normally have?
Litter sizes often range from 4 to 7 pups, depending on food
availability and the density of the surrounding coyote population. What
is really cool about coyotes is they have the ability to adjust their
litter sizes based on the above factors. So, if there is a lot of food
and habitat available, they'll have larger litters (also, if you try to
reduce the population through a removal program, they'll increase their
litters as well).
9. What animals are predators to coyotes?
Mountain lions are the main wildlife predator. Coyotes could
attack and kill each other. In areas where there are wolves, they would
be a predator. The main predator in Colorado is people, though, as more
coyotes are killed from vehicle collisions and hunting/removal than any
wild predator.
10. How many packs do coyotes travel?
See above in #5.
11. Is there any other types of coyotes?
The coyote is one of 8 species of the genus Canis. Four of these
are jackals of Europe, Africa & Asia. Other members of the genus include
the Gray Wolf (C. lupus), the Red Wolf (C. rufus) and all the breeds of
the domestic dog (C. familiaris).
12. how often do coyotes attacks?
Coyote attacks are still fairly uncommon and we are very careful
to delineate between a human "attack" and a situation that involves a
pet. Most people are bit when trying to break-up an incident between a
coyote and their dog - an attack on a person alone is VERY rare. We may
see a handful of incidents between people, pets and coyotes a year
(sometimes more, sometimes less) but I like to remind folks that in one
year you can see over 20 fatalities caused by domestic dogs, vs. 0 for
coyotes (2008 there were 23 fatalities in the U.S. caused by dogs, none
by coyotes). And you can have millions of people bit by domestic dogs
in the U.S. each year, compared to much less by coyotes. It's all about
perspective sometimes! I think here is where the officer's might have
more to add...
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Mary K. McCormac Northeast Region Education/Volunteer Coordinator
We emailed Mary Mcormac some questions about coyotes from the Colorado Division of wild life and she answered back to us.1. Are people safe around coyotes?
For the most part, coyotes are afraid of people and so keep
their distance from humans. However, there are times coyotes become
habituated to people, usually through directly and indirectly feeding
them (indirect feeding, for example, would be using bird feeders - not
only do the seeds attract them, but what eats the seeds, such as
squirrels, also attract coyotes). Other times to be careful of coyotes
is during breeding season (February/March). Mostly the issues with
coyotes in the Denver Metro area have to do with safety of peoples'
pets, not the people themselves, though I think all of us would say to
never leave small children unattended in coyote country (well, in any
wildlife country, too :o). Of course we also recommend keeping a safe
distance from any wild animal and NEVER EVER FEED WILDLIFE.
2. Are humans invading coyotes home?
We wouldn't use the term invading, but indeed as humanpopulation and urban development increases, the chance for
human-wildlife interactions and conflicts also increases. The
interesting fact about coyotes is that with our increased urban
development, they have actually thrived. Coyotes were once strictly
desert animals but with urban/surburban development, we have created
perfect habitat for them and many other animals. Studies have shown
coyotes need no natural habitat to survive - if you have food, shelter,
water, and space in your yard, you have perfect coyote habitat! Coyotes
now live in every state in the continental U.S. (including Alaska) and
in every urban area, including Chicago and New York City.
3. How old can a coyote live?
In captivity, a coyote can live up to 13-15 years. In the wild,most die before they're 3 years old. Many urban coyotes are killed by
cars.
4. What do they normally eat?
The important thing to know about coyote eating behavior is theyare opportunistic feeders, like raccoons and bears. I tell kids that
coyotes are like big raccoons (a bear is like a huge raccoon) because
they will eat anything and everything they can get their paws on! Their
primary source of food is rodents; they also eat deer, rabbits, birds,
raccoons, insects, fish, grass, fruit, etc. So small mammals make up
the majority of their diet, but even though they are technically
carnivores, they really are omnivores. I also tell kids that if they
had to work for their food, what would they do? Would they go for a
rabbit who knows to run away from them, how and where to hide, etc., or
would they go for a cat or small dog, who are not trained to escape
predators and are much easier to catch? Becomes much easier to
understand why any wild animal may target a pet for food - we also try
to explain that wild animals cannot tell the difference between a wild
animal and a domesticated one, so when your pet is outdoors, essentially
it becomes part of the food chain.
5. What are their habits?
Coyotes are territorial animals, but in urban areas theirterritories are much smaller than those that live in rural areas. They
use a range of howls, barks and whines to communicate to each other.
They typically have a highly organized social system, consisting of
groups/packs that apparently defend territories from other coyotes.
Packs/groups most often consist of family members and size can vary
greatly across geographic regions and habitat types. Although they live
in family groups, they usually travel or hunt in loose pairs. In urban
populations, solitary animals are fairly common, as they search to join
a group or start their own. Coyotes are typically crepuscular, meaning
active at dusk and dawn; however, in urban areas, they can be active any
time of day. Coyotes are probably the most intelligent land mammal in
North America and so are incredibly adaptable and can learn people's
habits (why we tell people never let your dog out at the same time every
day) and we can re-instill fear of humans in them, but it will take a
community effort.
6. What should you do when you see a coyote?
If the coyote is in a park/open space area and not close toanyone/bothering anyone, it should be left alone. The Division of
Wildlife strongly encourages people to haze coyotes that come into
yards/get too close to people, as they may have become habituated and
lost their fear of humans. Hazing can be in the form of squirting with
a hose, spraying vinegar/water with a spray bottle, pepper spray, blow a
whistle, yell, clap hands, throw small rocks/sticks at it, basically the
intent is for the coyote to fear people - what is best for the coyote
and people. If meeting a coyote face-to-face, be as big and loud as
possible, wave arms, clap and throw objects at the coyote, do NOT turn
your back or run, back away slowly until coyote leaves or you are at a
safe distance. WE have a great brochure and post card we give out to
folks with more information on how to protect pets, etc. - if you send
me an address I'll throw them in the mail for you...
7. Are coyotes an endangered species?
No, coyotes populations are believed to be quite healthythroughout the U.S.
8. How many babies do they normally have?
Litter sizes often range from 4 to 7 pups, depending on foodavailability and the density of the surrounding coyote population. What
is really cool about coyotes is they have the ability to adjust their
litter sizes based on the above factors. So, if there is a lot of food
and habitat available, they'll have larger litters (also, if you try to
reduce the population through a removal program, they'll increase their
litters as well).
9. What animals are predators to coyotes?
Mountain lions are the main wildlife predator. Coyotes couldattack and kill each other. In areas where there are wolves, they would
be a predator. The main predator in Colorado is people, though, as more
coyotes are killed from vehicle collisions and hunting/removal than any
wild predator.
10. How many packs do coyotes travel?
See above in #5.11. Is there any other types of coyotes?
The coyote is one of 8 species of the genus Canis. Four of theseare jackals of Europe, Africa & Asia. Other members of the genus include
the Gray Wolf (C. lupus), the Red Wolf (C. rufus) and all the breeds of
the domestic dog (C. familiaris).
12. how often do coyotes attacks?
Coyote attacks are still fairly uncommon and we are very carefulto delineate between a human "attack" and a situation that involves a
pet. Most people are bit when trying to break-up an incident between a
coyote and their dog - an attack on a person alone is VERY rare. We may
see a handful of incidents between people, pets and coyotes a year
(sometimes more, sometimes less) but I like to remind folks that in one
year you can see over 20 fatalities caused by domestic dogs, vs. 0 for
coyotes (2008 there were 23 fatalities in the U.S. caused by dogs, none
by coyotes). And you can have millions of people bit by domestic dogs
in the U.S. each year, compared to much less by coyotes. It's all about
perspective sometimes! I think here is where the officer's might have
more to add...
Helpful websites:
Chicago Coyote Study: http://ohioline.osu.edu/b929/pdf/b929.pdf
Dog bite info:
http://www.dogsbite.org/bite-study-nonfatal-emergency-2001.htm
http://wildlife.state.co.us/wildlifespecies/livingwithwildlife/mammals/coyotecountry.htm